To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what changes have been made to the cash limits for class IX, votes 1, 2 and 3. [13764]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class IX, vote 1 will be reduced by £1,850,000 from £783,014,000 to £781,164,000, and the running cost limit reduced by £150,000 from £439,329,000 to £439,179,000. This reduction has been made to offset extra provision required by the Northern Ireland Court Service for legal aid and by the Public Record Office for works to remove asbestos.The cash limit for class IX, vote 2 will be reduced by £2,300,000 from £28,794,000 to £26,494,000 partly to offset an increase of £4,000,000 in non-cash limited expenditure.The cash limit for class IX, vote 3 will be increased by £2,310,000 from £40,396,000 to £42,706,000 and the running cost limit increased by £310,000 from £26,945,000 to £27,225,000. Some £2,000,000 of the cash limit increase is covered by take up under the capital end year flexibility scheme and £160,000 of the running cost limit is similarly covered by the running cost end year flexibility scheme. The remaining £150,000 increase is offset by a reduction in LCD's running cost limit—class IX, vote 1.The increases will be offset by savings or charged to the reserve and will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 January, column 674, if he will seek reasons from the Law Commission and Land Registry, beyond those which appear in the Law Commission's report, No. 235, as to why they did not feel able to recommend the extension of section 123 of the Land Registration Act 1925 to conveyances which do not accompany a transfer of the beneficial interest in the land. [12333]

As referred to in my answer of 18 January, the recommendations made were informed by the responses to an earlier consultation document issued by the Land Registry. The consultation document was widely circulated and drew responses from a broad range of bodies and individuals, including local authorities, Government landowners, utilities, financial institutions, those requiring information about land, professionals advising those dealing with land and property, academic institutions and consumer bodies. The responses showed a consensus in favour of extending the application of section 123 of the Land Registration Act to other dispositions than those to which it currently applies.However, objections were raised to its possible extension to conveyances not accompanying a transfer of the beneficial interest by a significant number of respondents, particularly having regard to the cost likely to be incurred in preparing such applications for registration. It was not considered appropriate to recommend, as a priority, the adoption of proposals which lack sufficient support from those who would be affected by them. Instead, the Government have accepted the recommendation that the issue is one which it would be appropriate to consider further after a period of five years.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to introduce regulations on shared pensions on divorce under the Pensions Act 1995; what factors have prevented their introduction to date; and if he will make a statement. [12438]

The Government plan to introduce regulations under sections 166 and 167 of the Pensions Act 1995, concerning the courts' treatment of pensions on divorce, on 1 July 1996. The Government are concerned to ensure full consideration of the proposed regulations, which will bring these sections into force, and to allow consultees sufficient time to comment on the proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a Green Paper on legal aid in Scotland. [12090]

My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce a Green Paper on legal aid in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has (a) to implement part V of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 and (b) to introduce non-solicitor legal aid franchising in Scotland. [12080]

My right hon. Friend currently has no plans to implement part V of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 or to introduce non-solicitor legal aid franchising in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the estimated expenditure on the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board for 1996–97 relates to (a) Government guarantees in respect of the compensation fund to be established by the board and (b) any provision to secure that successful claims made against a conveyancer in connection with a provision of conveyancing services are satisfied. [12081]

None of the estimated expenditure relates to Government guarantees. The Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board will require to make payments to cover premiums and fees for the management of the compensation fund and the indemnity policy, with fees to the board's brokers. The brokers are still negotiating with the insurance industry and the level of these payments is not yet clear.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated annual subscription of practitioners under the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board to the compensation fund established by the board; and what is the estimated annual premium to be paid by (a) an independent qualified conveyancer, (b) a qualified conveyancer and (c) an executry practitioner in respect of indemnity insurance. [12082]

The Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board's brokers have entered into negotiations with the insurance industry over the compensation fund and indemnity policy. It is not yet clear, however, what the cost of the subscription and annual premium will be to individual practitioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to establish a presumption in the law on registration of day care and other provision for young children that registration should be granted unless there is some good reason not to. [12434]

A local authority may refuse to register providers of day care for children under eight except only on the specific grounds set out in section 71 of the Children Act 1989.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list for his Department and each of the agencies for which he is responsible if it uses the Employment Service's positive about disabled people symbol for (a) external recruitment and (b) internal recruitment and promotion. [11921]

For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 1 February.

To ask the Prime Minister how many persons have been (a) created knight or dame and (b) elevated to the peerage following nomination by members of the public since April 1992. [12385]

It is not normal practice to reveal the sources of nomination for particular levels of award. Overall, nearly a third of awards have been supported by members of the public. The bulk of the remainder are recommended from a variety of official sources, for example health and education authorities.

To ask the Prime Minister what items of jewellery given to previous Prime Ministers are kept on the official inventory at 10 Downing street. [13385]

Gifts received by Ministers in their official capacity are dealt with in accordance with the procedures set out in "Questions of Procedures for Ministers". The details are not made public.

To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11363]

[holding answer 25 January 1996]: For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 1 February Official Report, column 911.

To ask the Prime Minister what is his estimate of the annual cost to his Department and his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies of their empty and under-utilised properties for (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95, (f) 1995–96 and (g) 1996–97. [11455]

[holding answer 30 January 1996]: For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 1 February Official Report, column 912.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what studies the efficiency unit has undertaken since 1994; and if he will make a statement on its findings. [12603]

Since 1994, the efficiency unit has undertaken two multi-departmental efficiency scrutinies: resource management systems and construction procurement by Government, and participated in the following single Department scrutinies:

• Department of Employment: Training Enterprise Councils;
• Department for Education: Burdens of Bureaucracy on Schools;
• Home Office: Burdens of Bureaucracy in the Context of the Criminal Justice System;
• Department of Health: Burdens of Bureaucracy in General Practice;
• Department of Transport: Traffic Area Offices;
• Inland Revenue: Scrutiny on Charging;
• Overseas Development Administration: Delegated Authority for Bilateral Financial Commitments;
• Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Burdens of Bureaucracy on Farmers (in progress);
• Department of Health: Burdens of Bureaucracy on Hospital Trusts and Health Authorities (in progress).

The unit is currently carrying out a review of the competing for quality initiative and a review of objective setting and monitoring in executive non-departmental public bodies. It is normal practice for scrutiny reports to be published.Individual members of the efficiency unit have also worked with officials from other Departments to contribute to a range of individual studies and reviews including fundamental expenditure reviews and senior management reviews.The efficiency unit's scrutiny programme continues to deliver value-for-money solutions across a wide range of issues. Since 1979, the scrutiny technique has proved its worth as a catalyst for improvement, resulting in better management, less bureaucracy and real cost savings. As an example, the first tranche of the burdens of bureaucracy scrutinies, whose reports were published in 1995, looked at paperwork imposed on the police and the courts, GPs and teachers. Recommendations from the reports will, on implementation, result in annual cost savings for the police of £30 million; 15 million fewer forms will need to be completed by busy GPs; and, teachers will receive 10 million fewer pieces of paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment how many countries had submitted national reports to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development for 1996 by 23 January 1996; and to whom Her Majesty's Government have made available the United Kingdom's report in addition to the UN commission. [13969]

I understand that 13 countries, including the United Kingdom, had submitted reports to the UN Commission by 23 January 1996. Copies of the UK's report have been placed in the Library, and are being sent to all member countries of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and to other interested parties. Further copies are available from the Department of the Environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for vacant local authority dwellings in England. [13968]

At 1 April 1995, the total number of empty council homes in England stood at some 71,800—2 per cent. of council stock. This represents a slight increase on the 1994 figure—70,300—but follows nine successive years in which the number fell. The latest figure is nearly 40 per cent. lower than the total for 1985—116,500.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount of EU funding intended to help small and medium enterprises Her Majesty's Government cancelled in 1990 to 1993, expressed in ecus; what factors led to the decision to cancel; and what proportion of all such cancellations in the EU this figure represents according to figures produced by the Court of Auditors. [10836]

None of the EU funding which my Department is responsible for administering was cancelled in 1990 to 1993.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many British citizens work for (a) British or (b) other companies in (i) Asia and (ii) Africa; [12243](2) how many United Kingdom companies regularly employ expatriate staff in

The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bus company mergers or takeovers have been referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in each year since 1985. [123835]

The information requested is as follows:

	Number
1985,1986,1987	none
1988	1
1989	none
1990	8
1991,1992	none
1993	1
1994	3
1995	4
1996	1none
1To 31 January.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bus company mergers or takeovers his Department has been requested to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in each year since 1985. [12864]

Under merger control procedures, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade receives advice from the Director General of Fair Trading about whether specific mergers would be referred to the MMC. Since 1985, in all merger cases involving bus companies, where the DGFT has recommended reference, my right hon. Friend and his predecessors have accepted the advice of the DGFT to refer to the MMC. In addition, from time to time my right hon. Friend and the DGFT receive requests from third parties for specific mergers—including those involving bus companies—to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. It is not possible to quantify those requests except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the proposed sale of Pendle borough council's 50 per cent. stake in Burnley and Pendle Transport to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement. [12837]

In the event that such a merger were announced, it would be for the Director General of Fair Trading to consider the matter in the first instance. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade would then make his decision whether to refer the proposed merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission once he had the DGFT's advice.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions have been brought for insider dealing since 1 March 1994. [13129]

Since 1 March 1994, three prosecutions against four individuals have been commenced under insider dealing legislation. One individual was convicted in 1995. Proceedings against the remaining individuals have not yet been concluded.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the United Kingdom's current share of world trade. [12929]

Information on the UK share of world trade is published by the World Trade Organisation in "International Trade, Trends and Statistics 1995", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost of the importation of electricity from France for the years (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95. [13668]

This is a commercial matter for the parties to the relevant contracts.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library copies of all (a) relevant academic and departmental research papers relating to the impact of working time on health and safety at work on which the Government have based their response to the European directive on working time and (b) departmental studies he has commissioned with regard to working time and its effects on health and safety. [12774]

[holding answer 30 January 1996]: The Government commissioned Professor J. M. Harrington of the university of Birmingham institute of occupational health to identify and evaluate pertinent medical and scientific literature relating to the effect, if any, of hours of work on employees' health. The study forms part of the Government's legal challenge to the working time directive, 93/104/EC. I have been advised that, in accordance with established practice, it should not be published now; I expect to be able to do so after the case has been concluded. No other studies have been commissioned with regard to working time and its effects on health and safety by this Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes she proposes to make to her Department's running costs and cash limits for 1995–96. [13763]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XI, vote 1 will be increased by £4,570,000 from £1,017,049,000 to £1,021,619,000. This is to increase provision for assets accepted in lieu of tax and to increase the gross running costs limit for the Department by £1,900,000 from £26,975,000 to £28,875,000. The increases will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in (a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated. [10058](2) what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10062]

My Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in Northern Ireland. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the future of the joint Shantallow RUC station—Fort George Army base; and what plans the Government have for the property after 1 September. [12237]

Accommodation for the police is a matter for the Police Authority for Northern Ireland in line with the operational requirements of the Chief Constable.I understand that the RUC is currently examining its accommodation requirements to meet future policing needs in Londonderry. As the provision of new facilities at the Maydown complex nears completion, a number of options to rationalise existing accommodation are being considered, including the future of the Shantallow base. The army will consider the position with Fort George once the outcome of the RUC review is known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9744](2) what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public fund of each agreement. [9743](3) what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9745]

[holding answer 17 January 1996]: Within the Northern Ireland departments and agencies, the procurement of mobile equipment and car phones is carried out using normal Government procurement and accounting procedures, advised by the department of finance and personnel's telecommunication branch. It is normal practice to obtain three quotations for the instruments themselves and a quotation from each of the network providers in Northern Ireland. Quotations are normally obtained from among the following:

• British Telecom
• Cartec
• Motorola
• Netcom
• Vodac
• Communications Shop
• Mobile Communications Specialists
• CAB Phones
• Euromobile
• Cellularphones
• Hutchison Telecom
• Vodafone

The Northern Ireland Office and its agencies have also obtained mobile and car phones, taking into account the cost and most suitable network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what review of practices related to deportation or refoulement he has carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations committee against torture. [12849]

I have been asked to reply.The Government have noted the Committee's recommendations. We are satisfied that our practices relating to deportation do not conflict with our international obligations, including those under the United Nations convention on torture, and do not plan to undertake a review of the kind proposed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the new en-route air traffic control centre at Swanwick will be on line to meet traffic demands; to what extent this is in accordance with the original time scales for the project; and what implications this has for the new Scottish centre. [12466]

The original target date set for the centre to enter operation was the end of 1996. The CAA has announced that, in view of problems that have arisen in integrating the software sub-systems of the air traffic management system, it has been decided to re-schedule the operational date to December 1997.There are no implications for the new Scottish centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will instruct the Highways Authority to issue instructions to the security firms they have hired in relation to his Department's road schemes not to instigate violence against demonstrators; [12814]

I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. member.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made to the value of the economy of a reduction of unemployment by 100,000 assuming normal cost-benefit assumptions. [12600]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants (a) would cease to be eligible for family credit, housing benefit and other means tests if a child tax allowance was re-introduced and set each at multiple of £100 up to an including £1,000 and (b) would cease to pay tax at each charge; if he will estimate the cost in gross and net terms of such a charge; how many tax payers would not have a high enough income to use each of the tax allowances; and if he will estimate an average amount of unused allowances for each £100 median in child tax allowances. [9935]

Information for 1995–96 is given in the tables. It has been assumed that either partner of a married couple may use such a child tax allowance. Estimates in the tables have been produced for three of the multiples of £100. Estimates for all 10 multiples could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

A fall of 100,000 in unemployment in the UK is a strong signal of the fundamental strength of the UK's economy, and unemployment in the UK has fallen by 741,600 since December 1992 as a result of Government policies.Estimating the overall numerical value of a reduction in unemployment of 100,000 requires several heroic assumptions. However, the Department of Social Security's departmental report shows that a variation in unemployment of 100,000, assuming the 100,000 have the same characteristics as the existing unemployed population, would change total expenditure on benefits paid to the unemployed by £385 million in 1995–96.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of taxation taken in (a) direct and (b) indirect taxation in (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1985–86 and (iii) 1995–96. [11126]

The national accounts distinguish between taxes on income and capital, and taxes on expenditure. Social security contributions are identified separately. The table presents the information requested on this basis. Rates and community charge/council tax are shown separately so as to avoid the distortion to the series

Direct and indirect tax receipts as a percentage of total taxes and social security contributions
Year	Taxes on income1	Taxes on expenditure2	Taxes on capital	Rates3 council tax, community charge	Social security contributions
1978–79	40¼	31	1½	10	17½
1979–80	38	34½	1½	9½	16½
1985–86	39	31½	1¾	10	17¾
1995–964	37½	35¼	1	8¾	17½
1 Excludes community charge and council tax.
2 Excludes rates.
3 Business rates from 1990.
4 Budget forecast.

Totals may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the year-on-year change in employment in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and the Netherlands for each year since 1987. [12599]

The latest available information is shown in the table. For Belgium, France and the Netherlands, it is for the period 1986 to 1993.

Employment: year on year change 1987 to 1995 (thousands)1
	United Kingdom	Belgium	France	Netherlands
1986–87	489	-49	-116	554
1987–88	929	10	109	59
1988–89	829	103	241	120
1989–90	247	39	128	244
1990–91	-536	94	241	146
1991–92	-587	51	-94	194
1992–93	-301	-26	-113	26
1993–94	186	—	—	—
1994–95	276	—	—	—

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the proceeds from privatisation indicating source and cash in real terms and constant value terms in each year since 1979. [12854]

Table 5.6 to the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96" (HMSO Cm 2821) gives privatisation proceeds by source in cash terms. The table sets out the annual proceeds in cash and real terms at 1995–96 prices.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the golden shares held by Her Majesty's Government in the privatised industries, indicating when these lapse. [12853]

The remaining special or golden shares and their expiry dates, where applicable, are as follows:

Company	Expiry date
Cable and Wireless	—
Sealink Stena Line	—
BT	—
British Aerospace	—
VSEL Consortium
British Gas	—
Rolls-Royce	—
BAA	—
National Grid Group	—
National Power	—
PowerGen	—
Scottish Power	—
Scottish Hydro-Electric	—

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer how much total tax revenue would be generated if the 1978–79 income tax regime were in place today assuming no behavioural change; and what would be (a) the total difference over the period and (b) the average yearly difference for taxpayers, broken down into the top 1 per cent. of tax payers and thereafter each 10 per cent. band of tax payers. [1483]

[holding answer 21 November 1995]: Information on the reduction in income tax liability for 1995–96 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime is given in the table. This comparison is hypothetical since if an indexed version of the 1978–79 tax regime had prevailed over the last 17 years, the income base would not have grown as it has. The effect of changes in mortgage interest relief cannot be included in the analysis because most mortgage interest relief is given at source and therefore is not recorded on individual tax records.

Table A
Quantile group of taxpayers under the the 1978–79 indexed regime Per cent	Reduction in tax £million	Average reduction £
Top 1	9,900	36,900
2–10	6,800	2,800
11–20	4,100	1,500
21–30	3,200	1,200
31–40	2,600	960
41–50	2,100	770
51–60	1,600	610
61–70	1,300	470
71–80	890	330
81–90	530	200
Bottom 10	300	110
All taxpayers	33,300	1,240

In contrast to these hypothetical figures, table B shows how the share of income tax actually paid by high income groups has risen since 1979, while the share of the income tax burden borne by low income tax payers has fallen.

Table B: Calculations using the income base for each year
Per cent.
Quantile group of taxpayers	Share of income tax in: 1978–79	1995–96
Top 1	11	16
Top 5	24	33
Top 10	35	44
Bottom 50	18	13
All taxpayers	100	100

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions on which the previous Director General of the Prison Service brought to his attention the conditions at Her Majesty's prison Holloway. [8129]

I had regular discussions with the previous Director General of the Prison Service on a wide range of matters. The conditions at Holloway were raised during our discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints or reports have been received regarding insect infestation in Holloway's mother and baby unit in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [12312]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of (a) male and (b) female officers employed at Her Majesty's prison Holloway for each year since 1990; what is the predicted staff complement for 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [12267]

[holding answer 31 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all (a) escapes and (b) other serious breaches of security at Her Majesty's prison Holloway for each year since 1990. [12269]

[holding answer 31 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what have been (a) the allocations and (b) the sums actually spent on maintenance on (i) the Camp Hill residential estate, (ii) Parkhurst residential estate and (iii) Albany residential estate on the Isle of Wight for the last five years. [11749](2) what has been the annual budget for the last five years for

Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed reduction in fire cover in the London fire brigade; and what representations he has received on these proposals from (a) insurance companies and (b) property policy holders in London. [12867]

Statutory responsibility for the provision of the fire service rests with the fire authority—in this case the London fire and civil defence authority. Under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, my right hon. and learned Friend has to be notified of the fire authority's establishment—the number of fire stations, fire appliances and firefighting posts—as at 1 January each year. The fire authority may not reduce its establishment without his consent. He grants approval only where he is satisfied that the proposals have been sufficiently widely publicised, in sufficient detail and with adequate time, to enable any interested party to make representations; the representations have been considered by the fire authority; and that, after taking advice from Her Majesty's inspectorate of fire services, the nationally recommended standards of fire cover will be maintained.My right hon. and learned Friend has received no application from the fire authority for his approval. However, he has received a number of representations, some of which may well have come from holders of property insurance policies, but, as at 31 January, none from insurance companies. Should the authority decide to make an application to reduce fire cover, any representations made to the Secretary of State would be taken into account when that application is considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 with particular reference to its proposals for (a) reductions in the number of animals used in laboratories and (b) a reduction in the suffering of laboratory animals. [12820]

The animal procedures committee will review the working of the Act and offer advice to my right hon. and learned Friend. I expect that the review will consider the impact the Act has had both on the number of animals used in scientific procedures and on the extent of animal suffering.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the ages at which people may play on AWP machines in different categories of establishment; what representations he has received for standardisation of age; and if he will make a statement. [12852]

The playing of amusement-with-prizes machines in current use is not subject to any statutory age restriction. Amusement arcade operators who are members of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association—BACTA—operate a voluntary police whereby persons under 16 are not allowed in inland arcades and local school children of any age are not allowed in seaside arcades during school hours.The Government have received representations from the amusement arcades action group. United Kingdom forum on young people and gambling and Dr. Sue Fisher at the university of Plymouth that all AWP machines should be subject to a statutory age limit of 18; and from the National Council on Gambling that all AWP machines should be confined to adult premises.The draft Deregulation (Gaming Machines and Betting Office Facilities) Order provides for a machine with a £10 cash prize. Persons under 18 would not be allowed access to these machines in arcades. The machines would also be permitted in betting shops, where there is a statutory prohibition on access by persons under 18, and in liquor licensed premises and licensed bingo clubs, which are essentially adult environments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women's prisons do not currently meet (a) fire compliance standards and (b) statutory and safety standards; and how much must be spent to bring each prison into compliance with those standards. [11494]

[holding answer 31 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimate of the number of people involved in the illegal drugs market in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [12726]

[holding answer 1 February 1996]: Since drug dealing is an illegal and, therefore, clandestine activity it is not possible to produce a reliable estimate of the number of people involved.The number of offenders found guilty, cautioned or dealt with by compounding for drug offences is contained in table 1.1 of "Statistics of Drugs Seizures and Offenders Dealt with, United Kingdom, 1994", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons Paul Norney was not informed that he was required to appear before the Parole Board when his parole was last considered; for what reasons he was not asked to appear before the Parole Board in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland; when his parole is to be considered; and if he will make a statement. [12949](2) what factors led to Brendan Bond being refused parole by the Parole Board; and if he will make a statement. [12951](3) what factors led the Parole Board to require Stephen Nordone, Noel Gibson and Sean Kinsella to remain in Britain for three months after their release; and if he will make a statement. [12952]

[holding answer 1 February 1996]: These matters are the responsibility of the Parole Board. I have asked the chairman of the Parole Board to write to the hon. Member and I will place a copy of his reply in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the helplines, or schemes which include a helpline service, for which his Department provides any funding, stating which are (a) independent organisations, (b) run by his Department or agencies of

Description	Run by	Number of calls	Cost £
Blood Donor Line	Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health	78,516 (April-December 1995)	33,074
Drinkline	Drinkline (non-profit making limited company)	44,000 (October 1993–January 1996)	516,000 (DH funding for 1993–94—1995–96)
Health Information Service	NHS—regionally provided service	920,136 (April 1992–December 1995)	7,772,745 (April 1992–March 1996 Includes all costs associated with establishing the service and in initially publicising its availability)
Health Literature Line (including the Organ Donor Line)	Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health	255,885 (April-December 1995)	108,026
National AIDS Helpline and National Drugs Helpline	Network Scotland Ltd. (independent company contracted by the Department of Health)	386,953 (April-December 1995)	1,569,000 (estimated total 1995–96 cost)
National AIDS Helpline	Broadcasting Support Services and Network Scotland (contracted by the Department of Health)	4,200,514 (January 1990–December 1994)	6,038,000
Sexwise Helpline	Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health	784,016 (April-December 1995)	366,854
Committee Safety Medicines Freephone	Medicines Control Agency	1,977 (January 1994–December 1995)	7,510 (calls costs only)

Details of other helpline services could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is his Department's policy regarding the transfer of patients' dental records when the patient is transferring from one NHS dentist to another. [12830](2) what is his policy regarding transfer of a patients' dental records if a dental practice leaves the NHS. [12831]

It is a condition of dentists' terms of service that dentists should provide, within 28 days of a request from registered patients leaving to join another

[pursuant to his reply, 22 January 1996 c.13–14]: I regret that there was an error in the table provided. A correct version is now listed.dentist, a summary of the care and treatment given to that patient. Local family health services authorities provide a form, FP26, for that purpose.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the letter to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West of 29 September 1995 concerning the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, what further measures he now proposes as regards equipment, staff and funding to assist the tribunal in its work; what is the intended timetable for investigation, arrest, charging and trial; and if he will make a statement. [13397]

The International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has announced indictments against 52 individuals. It has held preliminary hearings in the trial against Dusko Tadic, a guard at the Omarska Camp, the trial is due to start on 18 March.The tribunal does not disclose its operational timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the grant in aid in each of the last five financial years, and in 1995–96 to date from his Department to the BBC World Service in constant prices. [12907]

The figures are:

BBC World Service grant in aid 1990–91 to 1995–96
	Actual grant	At constant prices (1995–96)
1990–91	146	174
1991–92	153	172
1992–93	163	176
1993–94	172	180
1994–95	174	179
1995–96	175	175

Figures are rounded up to the nearest million and do not include the Ministry of Defence's contribution to BBC World Service monitoring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement on the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union. [13626]

The answer is as follows:SUBJECT: MONTHLY FORECAST OF BUSINESS FOR FEBRUARY 19961. The following Councils are scheduled:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Post Office authorities the returning to sender of food and medicines parcels posted to Iraq which have been clearly marked in accordance with his Department's instructions. [13284]

UN sanctions prohibit the export to Iraq of goods other than food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies. These require an export licence obtained from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Post Office will not accept any items for Iraq that do not have the appropriate licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the expenditure of his Department, his department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all forms of overseas travel, overseas accommodation and other associated expenses for (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95, (f) 1995–96 and (g) 1996–97. [11441]

[holding answer 30 January 19961]: Diplomatic wing expenditure on all forms of overseas travel, overseas accommodation and related expenses is:

• 1993–94: £28,792,720
• 1994–95: £25,790,597

The above includes expenditure on transfer journeys, medical journeys, local and regional travel, Queen's messenger travel, ministerial visits and subsistence, including accommodation costs. Figures for earlier years cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.Estimated outturn figures for overseas expenditure for 1995–96 cannot be provided as the apportionment between UK and overseas expenditure can, under the present accounting system, be made only after such expenditure has been incurred. The allocation of funds for 1996–97 has not yet been determined.The aid wing does not hold the information in the form requested. The total spent on travel and subsistence—including UK travel, hotel and associated costs both in the UK and overseas—is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contribution was made by the Welsh Development Agency through the joint venture agreement between the agency and the Llanelli borough council to the development of south Llanelli in 1994–95; what is the estimated outturn for 1995–96; and what is the planned expenditure for 1996–97. [11829]

I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to the right hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many redundancies were declared in 1995; and what percentage of those redundancies were in manufacturing. [12425]

The only information available is from the quarterly labour force survey, which estimates the number of people who were made redundant in the three months prior to the survey. In Wales, an estimated 15,000 people were made redundant in the three months prior to interview in the spring 1995 labour force survey. The corresponding figure for the summer 1995 survey was 10,000.The results from autumn 1995 and winter 1995 are not yet available. No reliable estimates relating to manufacturing can be made because of the relatively small sample size.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were in part-time jobs in Wales at the latest available date. [12424]

The labour force survey for summer 1995 estimated that 300,000 people in Wales aged 16 or over worked part-time in their main job.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time members of staff are currently employed at each of the Welsh Office agricultural department divisional offices. [12309]

The following full-time members of staff, excluding short-term casual staff, are currently employed at each of the agricultural divisional offices—as at 26 January:

	Number
Caernarfon	141
Carmarthen	145
Llandrindod Wells	168
Total	454

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reductions he estimates will take place in current staffing levels within the agriculture group of the Welsh Office in 1996–97; and what assessment he has made of his Department's capacity to meet the standards set out in "Helping Farmers in Wales" following these reductions. [12307]

Final decisions on the 1996–97 running cost budgets for individual groups have not yet been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time members of staff are currently employed by the Welsh Office agricultural department in Cardiff; and at what grades. [12310]

There are the following full-time staff in the agriculture department in Cardiff—as at 26 January 1996:

	Number
Grade 3	1
Grade 5	3
Grade 7	5
SEO	4
HEO	13
EO	18
AO	9
AA	9
PS	4

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current ratio of Welsh Office agricultural department staff to the total number of farmers, partners and directors in Wales. [12308]

The ratio of current Welsh Office agricultural staff, excluding short-term casual staff, to the total number of farmers, partners and directors in Wales is 1:63 (rounded).

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people who are in temporary jobs because they are unable to find permanent work. [12423]

The labour force survey for summer 1995 estimated that the number of employees in Wales aged 16 or over who were in a temporary job, and who gave the reason as being that they could not find a permanent one, was 48,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent assessment he has made of the persistent environmental effects on Welsh farms of the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident in 1986; and if he will make an assessment on the effect on the Welsh economy of the radioactive pollution. [12685]

In Wales radiocaesium contamination from the Chernobyl accident affects certain upland areas of sheep grazing, predominantly where there is a high peat content. While there is a general decline from year to year in the activity rate of radiocaesium, the actual rate of decline in these areas depends on the interaction of a number of factors such as soil type, vegetation, weather, drainage and sheep grazing preference. The variable interaction between these factors does not enable an accurate forecast to be made of the length of time sheep controls will be required.Regular monitoring of radiocaesium levels in sheep, and other relevant information, enables suitable areas to be identified for a comprehensive survey and assessment to determine the prospects for removing controls. Following such work, my right hon. Friend was able to life controls from more than 65 sq km in the Snowdon area on 17 January 1996. This reduced the area originally affected by sheep controls from more than 4,000 sq km to approximately 580 sq km.It was recognised that the introduction of sheep controls would have some economic effect on part of the Welsh sheep industry. To mitigate this, the sheep compensation scheme was introduced in July 1986 to compensate farmers whose enterprises had been disrupted as a consequence of sheep controls. So far in Wales over £7,900,000 has been paid to farmers affected. This compensation has been paid primarily to recompense farmers for the inconvenience and disruption of sheep controls; payments for market losses as a result of the Chernobyl accident have been comparatively small.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors led to the decision to permit employees of the fire services to stand for election in local authority areas in their areas. [12561]

Employees of combined fire authorities can become members of unitary authorities, but cannot be representatives of their councils on the fire authority of which their council is a constituent.The Government consider that the responsibilities of combined fire authorities are such that membership of a constituent council would not present any conflict of interest for an employee of the combined fire authority provided that the employee is not a representative of the council on the combined fire authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors led to the decision not to permit employees of the national parks to stand for elections to local authorities in their areas. [12489]

The planning and development control responsibilities of national parks require them to take decisions which directly affect the interests of individual residents and businesses in the parks. People in the parks should be confident that there is no possible conflict between an individual's interest as an employee of a national park authority and his position as a member of a local authority. The Environment Act 1995 preserves this position by providing that an employee of a national park authority is not only disqualified from being a member of that authority, but from being a member of any local authority represented on that national park authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much expenditure was incurred in the county of Gywnedd during the financial year 1994–95 under the Industry Acts; and how many new jobs have been facilitated by such expenditure. [12491]

In 1994–95, companies in Gywnedd accepted assistance worth £4,438.025 under regional selective assistance, RSA; regional enterprise grants; SMART, small firms merit award for research technology, and SPUR, support for projects under research, schemes. Of these, only RSA is job-related, and 600 jobs were forecast to be created and/or safeguarded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the grants paid by (a) the Welsh Office and (b) its NDPBs to supermarket chains in (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994. [12520]

The Welsh Office offered Tesco a grant of £2 million in 1989 to encourage it to relocate its administration centre to Cardiff. In 1992, an offer of £3.8 million was made to encourage it to locate a distribution centre at Magor. Details of individual payments within these offers are commercially confidential, but payments on both projects have been made during the period 1992 to 1994. No other supermarket chains have received Welsh Office grant assistance and no supermarket chain has received grant from Welsh Office public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans his Department has to preserve the section of Offa's Dyke at Rhostyllen, near Wrexham, Clwyd, currently offered for sale; and if he will make a statement. [12872]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. T. J. Cassidy, to reply to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new moneys he plans to give to Alyn and Deeside district council to enable the authority to modernise more of its housing stock; if he will visit Alyn and Deeside district council and undertake a tour of inspection of the older council estates; and if he will make a statement. [12990]

My right hon. Friend and I have no plans to change Alyn and Deeside district council's housing capital allocations or to visit council estates in the area. It is for the local authority to determine capital spending priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many treatments are available at each treatment centre; and what guidelines he has issued on the provision of free transport to each treatment centre for (a) pre-operative, (b) surgery and (c) follow-up consultations. [12964]

In 1995–96, the number of procedures available at each treatment centre is:

	Number
Surgical centre, Bridgend (hernia, varicose vein and some minor surgical procedures)	1,080
Ophthalmic centre, Bridgend (cataract procedures)	1,060
Orthopaedic centre, Rhydlafar (hip/knee replacement and joint revision procedures	298

Patient transport services are provided free of charge for all visits to and from treatment centres for those patients with medical need as determined by their doctor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 1996, Official Report, column 400, if he will list those Welsh health authorities which have stopped funding extra-contractual referrals until 1 April and in each case the estimated cost overrun of the health authority prior to the decision. [13016]

South Glamorgan and Dyfed health authorities have suspended funding of non-urgent extra-contractual referrals for the balance of the current financial year. The projected overruns when the decisions were made were £1.4 million and £1.5 million respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the announcement of the award to Excel Logistics of the materials management contract under the market testing of the Welsh health common services authority, how the capital receipts for the disposal of Bridgend, Swansea and Whitchurch will be treated; and what undertakings have been given to NHS trusts concerning rebates or other financial consideration from the disposals in the price to be offered for materials management services. [13389]

NHS trusts have been told that capital receipts from the sale of existing stores will be available to contribute towards the restructuring of the procurement service following the award of the contract to Exel Logistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will undertake a survey of the waters in Cardigan bay and the Irish sea to identify unexploded bombs; and if he will make a statement. [12490]

I have been asked to reply.If left undisturbed, munitions on the sea bed present no significant risk to human health or to the marine environment. Accordingly, my Department has no plans to survey Cardigan bay or the Irish sea to identify munitions.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the fish quotas for each EU country in (a) the current year and (b) each of the last five years; and what were the national fish catches in each of the last five years. [13089]

Detailed tables are being placed in the Library of the House showing

(i) the quotas allocated to each member state at the start of each of the years 1991 to 1995; and

(ii) uptake by each member state over the period 1991 to 1995 against their end-of-year quota i.e. after quota exchanges have been taken into account.

The quotas for each member state for the current year have not yet been published, but I will send them to the hon. Member as soon as they are.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the enforcement of the requirements of article 4(1)(a) of Council directive 91/628: Ovine and Caprine Animals, in terms of identification and registration in accordance with the requirements of article 3(1)(c) of Council directive 90/425EEC. [12543]

[holding answer 1 February 1996]: The Sheep and Goats (Registration, Identification and Movement) Order 1996, which implements the requirements on sheep and goats in Council directive 92/102.EEC on the registration and identification of livestock, came into effect on 1 February this year. The responsibility for enforcing this legislation falls to local authorities.